Food Science
and Nutrition
carleton.ca
The production and distribution of food is one of the
most important economic activities in the world. The
health and welfare of people everywhere depend on
the effective processing, storage and handling of food.
The field of food science integrates and applies
knowledge from the disciplines of chemistry, biology,
biochemistry, economics and nutrition to preserve,
process, package and distribute foods that are
nutritious, affordable, desirable and safe to eat. It
includes areas such as food manufacturing (from
product development to packaging); food composition
(food chemistry); food additives (vitamins,
preservatives, colour, flavour); stability (shelf life,
microbiology); food safety (contaminants, food
poisoning); and the sensory properties of food (taste,
appearance, smell, texture).
In Canada, the food industry employs approximately
288,000 people and accounts for 12 per cent of total
employment in manufacturing in the country. Food
scientists contribute their expertise to improve
quality and quantity of food produced and to respond
to issues such as irradiation of foods, genetically
modified foods, food contamination and preservation.
The Carleton advantage
Food Science and Nutrition at Carleton University
is distinct from other university-level food science
programs in the country. The Carleton program
provides a solid science base in chemistry, biology and
biochemistry with a strong emphasis on assessment,
management and communication of risk in food safety.
As a graduate of the program, you will not only be a
skilled and knowledgeable scientist, you will also have
the ability to assess risk and formulate policy. No other
program in Canada offers this unique blend of science,
economics, risk assessment and regulation.
Hands-on experience
At Carleton, we believe you should gain real-life
experience as soon as possible. That’s why you will
be taking experimental lab courses beginning in your
first year. It is also why we provide a number of other
valuable hands-on opportunities, such as summer
internships and co-operative education possibilities
to all our Science students.
The capital advantage
Carleton’s location in Ottawa, the nation’s capital,
means that our programs and professors have strong
links with government labs such as Health Canada,
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and the Canadian
Food Inspection Agency, as well as the National
Research Council of Canada.
Laura Dusmet
de Smours,
Food Science and
Nutrition student
The Food Science and
Nutrition program at
Carleton has allowed me
to become more aware of
what I eat, what I do and,
how it affects my day-today life. I thought I was a healthy eater before,
but now I see where I can improve in my diet and
find my perfect nutrient consumption match. My
classes are fascinating and engaging, and they
allow me to answer my own questions based
on the knowledge that I am accumulating. My
professors are also able to answer my questions
very thoroughly, to a point that I crave to know
more about the subject. I am just so thrilled to be
here in this program!
The program
Bachelor of Science (Honours)
Carleton’s Food Science and Nutrition program is
a four-year Honours Bachelor of Science degree
program.
Course overview
In your first year, you will be introduced to relevant
subjects, including biology, chemistry, mathematics
and economics. An introductory course in food science
provides an overview of the food industry (including
production, processing, product development,
packaging, chemistry, analysis and microbiology), as
well as elements of risk assessment, policy formation
and regulation.
Upper-year courses
In your second year, you will probe the sciences in
more depth, with courses in cell physiology and
biochemistry, genetics and organic chemistry. A
Principles of Nutrition (FOOD 2001) course allows you
to gain an understanding of digestion, absorption
and metabolism of nutrients. You will also examine
disorders such as diabetes and cardiovascular
disease.
In the third year of the program, you will specialize
more fully in the food sciences, with courses in food
chemistry, analysis, packaging, engineering and
microbiology. Courses in economics and statistical
modelling round out your studies.
In your final year, you will study food quality control,
risk assessment and toxicology. You will also have the
opportunity to undertake a major research project in
food science. Working with one of your professors on
a specialized topic, you will complete experimental
work to support a thesis on a subject of interest.
Your first-year experience
A sample first year
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0.5 credit in Introduction to Food Science
0.5 credit in Introductory Biology I
0.5 credit in Introductory Biology II
1.0 credit in General Chemistry I) and
General Chemistry II
0.5 credit in Elementary Calculus I
0.5 credit in Linear Algebra I
1.0 credit in Introduction to Economics
0.5 credit from Physics or Earth Sciences
Minor
Students registered in other programs who are
interested in food science can now take a 4.0 credit
minor in Food Science and Nutrition. A minor will
give you a foundation in another area of study and
will appear as a notation on your diploma.
Future opportunities
The workplace
There is a demand in Canada for food science
graduates with a wide range of knowledge of the entire
food production continuum, as well as regulatory and
policy-making expertise. Graduates of the program
will be eligible for membership in the Canadian
Institute of Food Science and Technology and will be
well qualified to work for the federal government and
other agencies, as well as in industry and research.
Careers in the food science and nutrition sectors
include positions as quality assurance managers,
consumer product officers, food technologists and food
safety specialists, to name but a few.
Graduate studies
Many Carleton Honours students pursue
graduate studies either in Canada or abroad. Our
undergraduate programs are excellent preparation for
master’s and doctoral programs.
Professional programs
Many professional programs, including teaching,
medicine, business and law, encourage well-rounded
applicants from a variety of backgrounds to apply. An
Honours Bachelor of Science degree provides a strong
foundation for such training.
FAQs
1. When do I have to declare a major?
You will need to choose a major by the end of your
first year. Course registration is generally easier
for students who have declared a major, so even if
you are not 100 per cent certain, it is best to choose
a major upfront and change it later if you need to.
2. Where can I go for academic advice?
In addition to academic advising within the
Department of Chemistry, our Student Academic
Success Centre offers a range of services
including academic advising and free study-skill
development workshops. carleton.ca/sasc
You can also take advantage of our new Science
Student Success Centre, which was created
specifically to address the needs of science
students.
Admission requirements
For admission to the Food Science and Nutrition
program, you must have the Ontario Secondary School
Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, including a minimum
of six 4 U/M courses. These six courses must include
Advanced Functions and two of Biology, Chemistry,
Earth and Space Science, or Physics. (Calculus and
Vectors is also strongly recommended.)
It is Carleton University policy to consider your best
performance in any eligible course in the admissions
assessment.
Since the number of qualified applicants may be
greater than the number of available spaces, cut-off
averages and required marks may vary. Please refer to
our website at admissions.carleton.ca/
requirements for current admission requirements.
For more information
…about the Food Science and Nutrition program at
Carleton, please visit our website at carleton.ca/fsn
or consult the Carleton University Undergraduate
Calendar at carleton.ca/cuuc.
SCIENCE
Do you want more information?
Please contact us at:
Department of Chemistry
Carleton University
203 Steacie Building
1125 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa ON K1S 5B6
Canada
Tel:613-520-3534
Fax:613-520-3749
Email:
chemistry@carleton.ca
Website: carleton.ca/fsn
Undergraduate
Recruitment Office
Carleton University
315 Robertson Hall
1125 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa ON K1S 5B6
Canada
Tel: 613-520-3663
Toll-free in Canada: 1-888-354-4414
Fax: 613-520-3847
Email: liaison@carleton.ca
Website: carleton.ca/admissions
This document is available in a variety of
accessible formats upon request. A request
can be made on the Carleton University
website at: carleton.ca/accessibility/request.
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